Al Ahli Club to contest two-year ban by AFC

Al Ahli Club, Dubai will contest a two-year ban on them by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The Disciplinary Committee of the AFC, which met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, suspended Al Ahli Club, Dubai for two editions (2006 and 2007) of the AFC Champions League.

The AFC also imposed a fine of $94,500 on Al Ahli for failing to show up for their Group C match of the 2005 AFC Champions League against Neftchi Fergana of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on May 25.

Al Ahli refused to travel to Uzbekistan to play the match due to security concerns.

"For sure, we will contest this decision," Ahmad Eisa, Vice-President of the Al Ahli board of directors, told Gulf News.

"In the past we have made our stand clear to the disciplinary committee. But now that they have taken a decision, we will see that we continue representing our point of view to ensure that we have a chance to continue playing at the Asian level," Eisa said.

Al Ahli have the right to lodge an appeal before the AFC Appeals Committee as provided in Article 122 of the AFC Disciplinary Code within two weeks.

The club official, however, admitted that they have yet to receive any official intimation on the ban from the AFC.

"We get two weeks from the date of receipt of the official intimation. We have yet to receive this letter from the AFC. After we do receive the letter, we will study all the implications it has on us and then put it up for discussion before the board and act accordingly," Eisa said.

At its Thursday meeting, the AFC committee also banned Ljubisa Tumbakovic, coach of the China Super League club, Shandong Luneng for a six-month period.

The coach was found guilty of assaulting the first assistant referee during the club's quarterfinal match against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia on September 21.

Shandong Luneng players Predrag Pazin and Zheng Zhi were also found guilty.